Can opener



Aug. 26, 1924- 1,506,709

J. T. woons CAN OPENER Filed Jan. 5. 1921 MW 1 I Jase 2972f Moods attbrnqy Patented Aug. 26, I924.

CAIN OPENER.

Application filed January 5, 1921. Serial No. 435,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr T. Woons,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammett, in the county of Elmore and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Can Opener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in implements for opening cans and the invention has for its object to provide an opener which is of such construction as to facilitate quick and convenient penetration of the material of the can upon initial application With these and other objects in view, the" invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is 'a top plan view of the can opener applied to use.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation thereof, illustrating the blade of the can opener in position relative to the side wall of a can.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the implement, partially in section; and,

Fig. 4 is'a fragmentary bottom plan view of the can opener removed from the can.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numeral designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates a handle having its rear portion of any preferred shape with regard to comfort and convenience when grasped in the hand during use. A. head 6 formed with a reduced shank portion 7, is swivelly mounted in the outer terminal of the handle 5, and the extremity of the shank opposite the head 6 is upset as at 8, over a washer 9, and coacts with the head 6 to prevent displacement of the latter axially from the handle. The head 6 projects into the lower face of the handle 5, and is provided with a diametrical slot 10,

"the bottom wall of which lies approximately flush with the lower face of the handle, and which is of such width as to accommodate the head or rim ordinarily provided at the ends of cans, as will hereinafter appear.

A cutting blade 11 is carried by the handle 5, and which has a major portion of its length spaced from and arranged in parallelism with respect to the forward portion of the handle 5. The rear of the blade 11, is ofi'set as at 12, and which is secured by suitable rivets 13 to the handle 5; The blade 11 is positioned with res ect to the lower face of the handle 5, and t at portion of the blade 11 which is arranged in parallelism with respect to the handle 5, is connected with the latter, as at 14,'through the medium of a spacing element 15, interposed between the blade and the handle to maintain the parts in s aced relation. One of the longitudinal e ges of the blade 11 projects beyond the adjacent edge of the handle 5, as readily seen in Figs. 1 and}, and which is provided with a cutting edge 16, the extreme outer end of the blade being bevelled as at 17, defining the penetrating oint 18, positioned outwardly and forwar ly and to one side of the axis of the rotatable head 6.

In use, the can 19 to be opened is stood on end and the implement is adjusted so as to engage the head or rim 20 of the top of the can in the groove or slot 10 of the head 6. When the implement is initially applied to the can, it is disposed in the position illustrated in ,full lines in Fig. 1, the beveled end 17 of the cutting blade 11 lying contiguous to the side wall of the can. As the can opener is swung in the direction of the arrow, Fi 1, to the intermediate posit on indicate by dotted lines, the penetrating, point 18 penetrates the side wall of the can, the extreme end of the blade entering the latter. As the movement of the handle is continued in the direction of the arrow, the cutting edge 16 forms a long cut in the. side wall of the can. At the end of the cuttin stroke of the handle, the latter is shifte longitudinally upon the head or rim 20, the latter slidin in the slot 10 until further movement 0 the implement is arrested by en agement of the cutting edge 16 with the en of the initial cut. The swinging movement of the handle is repeated as often as necessar until a circumferential out has been ma 0 entirely about the can.

From the foregoing, it is evident by virtue of the close arrangement of the fulcrum head 6 'to the penetrating point 18,

the can may be merely penetrated or punctured to initially enter the cutting blade 11 therein. Further, owin to the inward movement of the cuttin blade durin cutting action, the edge 0 the can at the cut is turned inwardly, instead of outwardly as The washer 9 is non-rotatably secured upon the shank of the head 6 and its edge is preferably knurled to facilitate turning of'the head to properly aline the slot 10 therein with the rim or bead of the can.

The upper face of the washer is provided with a diametrical line 9 as well as the top end of the shank 7 of the head which is disposed in accurate parallel relation to the groove 10 whereby theoperator may readil etermine the osition of the roove wit respect to the proved can opener to a can.

Owing to the construction and arrangement and also the shape-of the cutting blade.

11, the latter is of extremely substantial and rigid constructionand its cutting edge 16 is very readily accessible for the pur se of sharpening. It is further evident that with the cut made on the inward stroke and by virtue of the arrangement of the cutting blade to the handle 5 and slotted fulcrum head 6, that pressure applied in making a cut is directly toward the center of the can, thus eliminating any twisting andle in applying the im-.

motion and minimizin the power or pressure required to hold t e can.

What I claim is: '1. A can opener comprising a handle, a head seated in and projectin from the lower face of the handleat one en thereof, means connected with the head and extending through and en aging with' the upper face of the handle or swivelly connecting the head and handle together, said head having a .groove on its lower face for overlapping the rim of can, thereby providin ,for the seating of the head on the rim an the connecting of the handle to the can, and a combined penetrating and can body cutting blade secured to and spaced from the lower face of the handle and further having a portion thereof extending in parallelism with respect to the lower face ofthe handle, the said portion of said blade provided with a cutting edge terminating in a penetrating point.

2. A can opener comprisin a handle, a head seated in and projectin rom the lower face of the handle at one en thereof, means connected with the head and extending through and engaging with the upper face' of the handle for swivelly connecting the head and handle together, said head having a groove on its lower face for overlapping the'rim of a can, thereby providing for the seating of the head on therim and the connecting of the handle to the.

can, and. a combined penetrating and can body cutting blade secured to and spaced from the lower face of the handle and fur JOSEPH T. WOODS. 

